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Abstract:

A vehicle seat has a cushion pad, a breathable outer cover and an air
permeable material layer. The cushion pad includes an air passage
extending from an air introducing port disposed at the non-passenger
facing surface to a branch passage formed along the passenger facing
surface. The branch passage has at least one bypass air passage that
extends in a vehicle-widthwise direction of the cushion pad. The
breathable outer cover is disposed over the passenger facing surface of
the cushion pad. The air permeable material layer is disposed between the
cushion pad and the breathable outer cover. The air permeable material
layer includes a plurality of vent outlets passing through in a thickness
direction of the air permeable material layer. The vent outlets are
arranged in at least one column that extends in a direction perpendicular
to the vehicle-widthwise direction.

Claims:

1. A vehicle seat comprising; a cushion pad including a passenger facing
surface, a non-passenger facing surface and an air passage extending from
an air introducing port disposed at the non-passenger facing surface to a
branch passage formed along the passenger facing surface, the branch
passage having at least one bypass air passage that extends in a
vehicle-widthwise direction of the cushion pad; a breathable outer cover
disposed over the passenger facing surface of the cushion pad; and an air
permeable material layer disposed between the cushion pad and the
breathable outer cover, the air permeable material layer including a
plurality of vent outlets passing through in a thickness direction of the
air permeable material layer, the vent outlets being arranged in at least
one column that extends in a direction perpendicular to the
vehicle-widthwise direction, the bypass air passage extending from the
branch passage in the vehicle-widthwise direction adjacent one of the
vent outlets; the branch passage and the bypass air passages being at
least partially open on the passenger facing surface where the cushion
pad borders with the air permeable material layer such that air blown
through the branch passage distributes the blown air to the vent outlets
and the blown air flows along the bypass air passages in a direction
transverse to the thickness direction of the air permeable material
layer.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cushion pad and the
outer cover form a seat bottom with the bypass air passage extending
towards a middle of the seat bottom in the vehicle-widthwise direction.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the branch passage has
a downstream portion that is located toward a frontward end of the seat
bottom, and the bypass air passages are in a downstream region of the air
passage.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cushion pad and the
outer cover form a seat back with the bypass air passage extending
towards outside of the seat back in the vehicle-widthwise direction.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the branch passage has
a downstream portion that is located toward a lower end of the seat back,
and the bypass air passage is in a downstream region of the air passage.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the branch passage
includes a trough-like section span across the vent outlets that are
arranged in the column.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the bypass air passage
has an interior cross sectional passage size that narrows as the bypass
air passage moves toward a terminal end of the bypass air passage.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the bypass air passage
forms an obtuse angle with respect to a flow direction of the blown air
in the branch passage.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the branch passage
includes a pair of trough-like sections span across the vent outlets that
are arranged in a pair of the columns.

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a seat for a vehicle.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat having
an air passage for introducing air to a cushion pad of the vehicle seat.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H09-505499 discloses a
seat cushion structure that has a cushion pad with a flow passage for
introducing conditioned air to the cushion pad. In this publication, air
is blown into the cushion pad through the flow passage. The air exits
from the cushion pad by an outlet on an outer surface side of the cushion
pad. The air exits from the cushion pad and passes through a porous sheet
that is covering the outlet. The air is then blow out from a sitting
surface of an outer cover of the seat cushion structure.

SUMMARY

[0006] It has been discovered that with the technology disclosed in above
mentioned publication, when a passenger sits on a seat cushion, a
ventilation portion of a porous sheet and an outer upholstery is crushed
by the weight of the passenger and an air blow outlet of the cushion pad
is often blocked. Consequently, there is a possibility that it will not
be possible to satisfactorily deliver blown air to the seated passenger

[0007] Therefore, one object presented in the present disclosure is to
provide a vehicle seat with which blown air can be satisfactorily
delivered to a seated passenger and a comfortable sitting feeling can be
obtained.

[0008] In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the
present disclosure is to provide a vehicle seat that comprises a cushion
pad, a breathable outer cover and an air permeable material layer. The
cushion pad includes a passenger facing surface, a non-passenger facing
surface and an air passage extending from an air introducing port
disposed at the non-passenger facing surface to a branch passage formed
along the passenger facing surface. The branch passage has at least one
bypass air passage that extends in a vehicle-widthwise direction of the
cushion pad. The breathable outer cover is disposed over the passenger
facing surface of the cushion pad. The air permeable material layer is
disposed between the cushion pad and the breathable outer cover. The air
permeable material layer includes a plurality of vent outlets passing
through in a thickness direction of the air permeable material layer. The
vent outlets are arranged in at least one column that extends in a
direction perpendicular to the vehicle-widthwise direction. The bypass
air passage extends from the branch passage in the vehicle-widthwise
direction adjacent one of the vent outlets. The branch passage and the
bypass air passages is at least partially open on the passenger facing
surface where the cushion pad borders with the air permeable material
layer such that air blown through the branch passage distributes the
blown air to the vent outlets and the blown air flows along the bypass
air passages in a direction transverse to the thickness direction of the
air permeable material layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this
original disclosure:

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a vehicle seat in accordance with in
accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the seat bottom of the vehicle
seat shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the seat bottom as viewed along
the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the seat bottom as viewed along
the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

[0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of a region C of the seat
bottom shown in FIG. 2;

[0015]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the seat back of the vehicle seat
shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the seat back as viewed along
the section line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

[0017]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat
bottom showing a variation in which the air passage is different.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the
drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this
disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are
provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the
invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0019] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 1 is illustrated in
accordance with a first embodiment. The vehicle seat 1 has a seat bottom
1A and a seat back 1B serving as seat bodies. The seat bottom 1A and the
seat back 1B are attached to a seat frame 1C.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the seat bottom 1A includes a seat
cushion pad 20, a breathable seat outer cover 21 and an air permeable
material layer 22. The seat outer cover 21 covers at least a portion of
an outer surface of the seat cushion pad 20. The air permeable material
layer 22 is disposed between the seat outer cover 21 and the seat cushion
pad 20 at least along portions of the upper sitting surface of the seat
cushion pad 20.

[0021] The seat cushion pad 20 is made of an elastic material, e.g.,
urethane foam, that has a standard spring constant that is typically
required for a vehicle seat cushion.

[0022] The seat outer cover 21 is a breathable outer cover that is made of
a breathable material such as a breathable fabric, a natural leather, a
synthetic leather, or an artificial leather

[0023] The air permeable material layer 22 is made of an elastic sheet
material, e.g., a mesh-like urethane foam, through which air can pass in
multiple directions within the layer. It is acceptable for the air
permeable material layer 22 to be a single large member that covers a
wide area corresponding to an entire sitting surface of the seat bottom
1A, i.e., an entire seated passenger support surface. However, in this
embodiment the air permeable material layer 22 is formed as a pair of
left and right strips corresponding to portions that support the thighs
of both legs a seated passenger as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 depicts the
seat with the seat outer cover 21 removed for purposes of illustration.

[0024] The seat back 1B includes a cushion pad 30, a breathable seat outer
cover 31 and an air permeable material layer 32. The seat outer cover 31
covers at least a portion of an outer surface of the seat cushion pad 30.
The air permeable material layer 32 is disposed between the seat outer
cover 31 and the seat cushion pad 30 at least along portions of the upper
sitting surface of the seat cushion pad 30. The cushion pad 30 has a
prescribed spring constant, similar to the cushion pad 20. The air
permeable material layer 32 is made such that air can pass through in
multiple directions within the layer in the same manner as the air
permeable material layer 22. FIG. 6 depicts the seat with the seat outer
cover 21 removed for purposes of illustration, similar to FIG. 2.

[0025] In this seat back 1B, too, the air permeable material layer 32 is
formed as a pair of left and right strips. The left and right strips of
the air permeable material layer 32 are arranged on left and right sides
of a back support surface that serves as a seated passenger support
surface. The left and right strips are arranged corresponding to portions
that support portions of a seated passenger's back located on both sides
of the seated passenger's spine.

[0026] Both of the air permeable material layers 22 and 32 of the seat
bottom 1A and the seat back 1B have a plurality of the vent outlets 40.
The vent outlets 40 are arranged on both vehicle-widthwise sides. Each of
the cushion pads 20 and 30 has at least one air passage 41. The air
passage 41 of the cushion pad 20 is in communication with the vent
outlets 40 that are provided in the cushion pad 20. Likewise, the air
passage 41 of the cushion pad 30 is in communication with the vent
outlets 40 that are provided in the cushion pad 30. The vent outlets 40
extend through the air permeable material layers 22 and 32 in a thickness
direction of the air permeable material layers 22 and 32. The air
passages 41 are arranged to deliver blown air to the vent outlets 40. The
vent outlets 40 of the air permeable material layer 22 of the seat bottom
1A are arranged in columns that are oriented along a vehicle-longitudinal
direction of the sitting surface of the seat bottom 1A. The vent outlets
40 of the air permeable material layer 32 of the seat back 1B are
arranged in columns that are oriented along a vertical direction of the
back supporting surface of the seat back 1B.

[0027] Each of the air passages 41 is connected to an air introducing port
42 that is provided on a back surface of the seat cushion pad 20 or 30.
Each of the air passages 41 branches into a plurality of air passages.
Each of the air passages 41 opens at a border surface where the seat
cushion pad 20 or 30 borders with the air permeable material layer 22 or
32. In this way, each of the air passages 41 distributes air from an air
blower 50 to the vent outlets 40.

[0028] The air introducing port 42 of the seat bottom 1A is provided in a
substantially middle portion positioned toward a rearward end of the seat
cushion pad 20. The air passage 41 includes a main passage 41a and a
branch passage 41b. The main passage 41a passes through the seat cushion
pad 20 in a vertical direction and connects to the air introduction port
42 at a bottom end. The branch passage 41b branches into a plurality of
branches at an upper surface of the seat cushion pad 20. The branch
passage 41b connects the main passage 41a to the vent outlets 40 of the
air permeable material layer 22. In this embodiment, the branch passage
41b is configured as a trough-like section that is open on a side
corresponding to the border surface with respect to the air permeable
material layer 22. In a projection plane, i.e., in a top plan view, the
branch passage 41b has an H-like shape with portions that extend in a
longitudinal direction on the left and right sides so as to span across
vent outlets 40 and a middle portion that passes over the main passage
41a (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0029] The air introducing port 42 of the seat back 1B is provided in a
substantially middle portion positioned toward an upper end of the
cushion pad 30. The air passage 41 includes a main passage 41a and a
branch passage 41b. The main passage 41a that passes through the cushion
pad 30 in a rear-to-front direction and connects to the air introduction
port 42 at a rearward end. The branch passage 41b branches into a
plurality of branches at a frontward surface of the cushion pad 30. The
branch passage 41b connects the main passage 41a to the vent outlets 40
of the air permeable material layer 32. In this embodiment, similarly to
the seat bottom 1A, the branch passage 41b is configured as a trough-like
section that is open on a side corresponding to the border surface with
respect to the air permeable material layer 32. In a projection plane,
i.e., a frontal view, the branch passage 41b has a U-like shape with
portions that extend in a vertical direction on the left and right sides
so as to span across the vent outlets 40 and an upper portion that passes
over the main passage 41a (see FIG. 6).

[0030] The air blower 50 is installed, for example, on a vehicle body
floor below the seat bottom 1A. The air blower 50 has two air discharge
ports 51A and 51B. The air discharge port 51A is connected to the air
introducing port 42 of the seat bottom 1A through a plurality of
connecting ducts 52A. The air discharge port 51B is connected to the air
introducing port 42 of the seat back 1B through a plurality of connecting
ducts 52B.

[0031] Bypass air passages 43 oriented in a widthwise direction of the
vehicle are provided in the branch passages 41b of the air passages 41 at
portions where the branch passages 41b communicate with the vent outlet
40. Each of the bypass air passages 43 is configured as a trough-like
section that is open on a side corresponding to the border surface with
respect to the air permeable material layer 22 or 32 and closed at a
terminal end. Air blown into the air passages 41 can be blown in a planar
direction to the air permeable material layers 22 and 32. Thus, the blown
air can be blown in a planar direction to the air permeable material
layer 22 due to the bypass air passage 43 of the cushion pad 20 or 30
even when small openings of the breathable seat outer cover 21 or 31 of
the seat bottom 1A or the seat back 1B and the vent outlets 40 of the air
permeable material layer 22 or 32 are crushed or blocked by the weight of
a seated passenger. As a result, blown air can pass through portions
where the small openings of the air permeable material layer 22 or 32 and
the seat outer cover 21 or 31 are not crushed and blow onto the seated
passenger.

[0032] In the seat bottom 1A, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the bypass
air passages 43 are provided in a downstream region of branch passage 41b
toward a frontward end of the seat bottom 1A such that the bypass air
passages 43 are oriented inwardly in a widthwise direction of the
vehicle. In the seat back 1B, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the bypass
air passages 43 are provided in a downstream region of branch passage 41b
toward a lower end of the seat back 1B such that the bypass air passages
43 are oriented outwardly in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.

[0033] As a representative example, FIG. 5 shows a portion where an air
passage 41 communicates with bypass air passages 43; each of the bypass
air passages 43 is configured such that a passage size thereof narrows as
one moves toward a terminal end. The bypass air passages 43 are
configured to form an obtuse angle θ of 90 degrees or larger with
respect to a flow direction of blown air in the branch passage 41b of the
air passage 41.

[0034] With a vehicle seat 1 configured according to this embodiment,
conditioned air from inside a vehicle cabin that is blown from the air
discharge ports 51A and 51B of the air blower 50 passes through the
connecting ducts 52A and 52B and into the air introducing ports 42 of the
seat bottom 1A and the seat back 1B. In the seat bottom 1A, the blown air
introduced to the air introducing port 42 is distributed from the main
passage 41a of the air passage 41 inside the seat cushion pad 20 to the
branch passage 41b. The blown air distributed to the branch passage 41b
is introduced substantially uniformly to the vent outlets 40 provided in
the air permeable material layers 22 provided on both vehicle-widthwise
sides. Air blown from the vent ports 40 passes through fine ventilation
holes (small openings) in the seat outer cover 21 and is discharged at
the sitting surface. As a result, conditioned air can be ventilated
(blown) to a lower body (spanning from a buttock portion across a length
of the thighs of both legs) of a passenger seated on the seat bottom 1A
such that a comfortable sitting environment can be created in which heat
and humidity are not trapped at the sitting surface.

[0035] In the seat back 1B, the blown air introduced to the air
introducing port 42 is distributed from the main passage 41a of the air
passage 41 inside the cushion pad 30 to the branch passage 41b. The blown
air distributed to the branch passage 41b is introduced substantially
uniformly to the vent outlets 40 provided in the air permeable material
layers 32 provided on both vehicle-widthwise sides. Air blown from the
vent ports 40 passes through fine ventilation holes (small openings) in
the seat outer cover 31 and is discharged at the back support surface As
a result, conditioned air can be ventilated (blown) to an upper body
(spanning from a lower back area to a portion near a shoulder area) of a
passenger whose back rests on the seat back 1B such that a comfortable
sitting environment can be created in which heat and humidity are not
trapped at the back support surface.

[0036] Although the air permeable material layers 22 and 32 are made so
that air can pass through the insides of the layers in multiple
directions, providing vent outlets 40 and configuring the air passages 41
to guide the blown air to the vent outlets 40 enables the blown air to be
concentrated at the vent ports 40 and to be discharged from the seat
outer covers 21 and 31 with a prescribed range of spread centered at
portions corresponding to the vent outlets 40.

[0037] Since the vent outlets 40 are arranged in columns oriented in a
direction perpendicular to a vehicle-widthwise direction of the seated
passenger support surfaces, conditioned air can be discharged along
portions of the seat bottom 1A corresponding to the buttocks and thighs
of a seated passenger and along portions of the seat back 1B
corresponding to both sides of a seated passenger's spine. That is,
ventilation can be concentrated at portions where a seated passenger
makes close contact and heat and humidity are easily trapped, and a
refreshing feeling can be increased.

[0038] When a seated passenger makes close contact, the ventilation holes
(small openings) of the seat outer covers 21 and 31 and the vent outlets
40 of the air permeable material layers 22 and 33 could feasibly become
blocked or crushed by pressure caused by the weight of the seated
passenger.

[0039] With this embodiment, bypass air passages 43 oriented in a
widthwise direction of the vehicle are provided in portions where the air
passages 41 communicate with the vent outlets 40. Each of the bypass air
passages 43 is open on a side corresponding to a border surface with
respect to the air permeable material layer 22 or 32, arranged to extend
in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, and closed at a terminal end.

[0040] Thus, even if the vent outlets 40 are blocked by pressure caused by
the body weight of a seated passenger, blown air can be delivered
successively into the bypass air passages 43 and blown from there in a
planar direction to the air permeable material layer 22 or 32.

[0041] As a result, the blown air is allowed to flow in multiple
directions through the insides of the air permeable material layers 22
and 32 near the blocked vent outlets 40 and the seat outer covers 21 and
31 can be ventilated such that a decline in ventilation performance can
be avoided.

[0042] In particular, in the seat bottom 1A of this embodiment, the bypass
air passages 43 are configured to be oriented toward a middle of the seat
bottom 1A in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 4.
Consequently, the blown air can be ventilated to an area between the
thighs L of both legs and a refreshing feeling can be well maintained.

[0043] The air passage 41 is configured such that downstream portions
thereof are located toward a frontward end of the seat bottom 1A. Since
the bypass passages 43 are provided in this downstream region of the air
passage 41, the blown air can be ventilated to an area between frontward
end portions of the thighs L where the space between the thighs L widens
and the ventilation performance can be improved. Providing the bypass air
passages 43 in a downstream region of the air passage 41 enables blown
air to flow more readily to the bypass air passages 43 and helps further
improve the aforementioned ventilation performance.

[0044] Meanwhile, in the seat back 1B, the bypass air passages 43 are
configured to be oriented toward the outsides of the seat back 1B in a
widthwise direction of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 7. Consequently, the
bypass air passages 43 can be disposed in portions separated from a
region where a seated passenger makes close contact, a decline of the
ventilation performance can be avoided, and heat and humidity can be
prevented from being trapped in the region where the seated passenger
makes close contact.

[0045] The air passage 41 is configured such that downstream portions
thereof are located toward a lower end of the seat back 1B. Since the
bypass passages 43 are provided in this downstream region of the air
passage 41, the ventilation performance can be improved at a portion
corresponding to a lower back area B of a seated passenger, where heat
accumulation and humidity occur more severely, and an excellent
refreshing feeling can be obtained. Moreover, in the seat back 1B, too,
providing the bypass air passages 43 in a downstream region of the air
passage 41 enables blown air to flow more readily to the bypass air
passages 43 and helps further improve the aforementioned ventilation
performance.

[0046] Also, in both the seat bottom 1A and the seat back 1B of this
embodiment, the portion of the air passage that communicates with the
vent outlets 40, i.e., the branch passage 41b, is configured as a
trough-like section that is open on a side corresponding to a border
surface with respect to the air permeable material layer 22 or 32 and
extends so as to span across the vent outlets 40 arranged in a column
along one direction.

[0047] As a result, even at the branch passage 41b, blown air can pass to
the air permeable layer 22 or 32 in a planar direction (thickness
direction) of the air permeable layer and an improvement of the
ventilation performance can be expected.

[0048] In addition to the effect of improving ventilation performance, a
consistency of communication between the vent outlets 40 and the air
passage 41 can be increased because the communication between the air
passage 41 and the vent outlets arranged in a column along one direction
can be concentrated at a single trough-like section. Additionally, since
the branch passage 41b is configured to be open at a surface of the seat
cushion pad 20 or 30, the forming of the cushion pads 20 and 30 can be
accomplished more easily.

[0049] Since each of the bypass air passages 43 is formed such that a
passage size thereof narrows as one moves toward a terminal end, the flow
speed of the blown air can be made to increase as the blown air
approaches the terminal end, thus contributing to improving the
ventilation performance.

[0050] The bypass air passages 43 are configured to form an obtuse angle
θ of 90 degrees or larger with respect to a flow direction of blown
air flowing toward a downstream portion of the branch passage 41b.
Consequently, the bypass air passages 43 take in blown air readily and
can contribute to improving the ventilation performance.

[0051]FIG. 8 shows a variation in which the air passages 41 are
configured differently and uses the seat bottom 1A as a representative
example of a seat body.

[0052] In this embodiment, both the main passage 41a and the branch
passages 41b of the air passage 41 are formed within the thickness of the
seat cushion pad 20.

[0053] The main passage 41a is formed along a single direction aligned
with a direction in which the vent outlets 40 are arranged. The branch
passages 41b are provided such that they communicate with each of the
vent outlets 40 arranged along a signal direction and communicate with
the main passage 41a in a thickness direction of the seat cushion pad 20.

[0054] In the air passage 41 shown in FIG. 8, there is no passage of air
from the branch passages 41b to the air permeable material layer 22 in a
planar direction (thickness direction) at portions other than the vent
outlet 40. Thus, all of the blown air can be concentrated at the vent
outlets 40 and allowed to permeate and pass through there.

[0055] Although in the previously explained embodiment the bypass air
passages 43 are provided in a downstream region of the air passage 41, it
is clearly acceptable to provide bypass air passages oriented in a
widthwise direction of the vehicle at portions where the air passage 41
communicates with each of the vent outlets 40.

[0056] In understanding the scope of the present invention, as used herein
to describe the above embodiment(s), the following directional terms
"vehicle-widthwise direction" "vehicle-lengthwise direction" "forward",
"rearward", "above", "downward", "vertical", "horizontal", "below" and
"transverse" as well as any other similar directional terms refer to
those directions of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle seat.
Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention
should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the vehicle
seat. The terms of degree such as "substantially", "about" and
"approximately" as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of
the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.

[0057] While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the
present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of
the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired.
Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can
have intermediate structures disposed between them unless otherwise
specified. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice
versa unless otherwise specified. The structures and functions of one
embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment unless otherwise
specified. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a
particular embodiment at the same time unless otherwise specified. Every
feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with
other features, also should be considered a separate description of
further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or
functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing
descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are
provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the
invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.